McLaren in favour of more F1 teams: 'Provided all the boxes are ticked'

Michael Andretti's plan to introduce an 11th team to the Formula 1 grid is meeting resistance from existing teams. Along with Alpine, McLaren is the only team not to speak out against any newcomers, provided they have something to add to the sport. McLaren CEO Zak Brown addresses the issue to GPblog and others.

As far as Brown is concerned, an eleventh or twelfth team is more than welcome, as long as it adds value. The McLaren boss thus clearly holds a different view to team bosses such as Christian Horner, Toto Wolff and Guenther Steiner, who worry about the economic impact a new team would bring.

While there is a $200 million entry fee to be paid, it is of a one-off nature. By contrast, the prize money to be distributed remains the same, and that is where the shoe pinches, according to the bulk of current F1 teams. Brown, however, thinks the focus should be on other ways in which a new team can make a difference to the sport.

"I've always been focused on how can we make the pie bigger. Less focused on how can I get a bigger piece of a pie that's not growing," the American begins. Therefore, as long as a team adds value, for example by helping the sport get more exposure, sponsorship and better TV deals, he is all for it.

However, the McLaren boss does feel that an "appropriate" entry fee should be paid, in line with the current value of the sport. "Then we're very supportive of having up to a 12 team grid. It’s ultimately up to Formula One and the FIA to decide what they think those values are, but if all those boxes are ticked, then we're very happy to welcome additional competition and growth to Formula One," he continued.